Textile thread-winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A textile thread-winding apparatus has a turret with two spindles each adapted to receive a thread carrier. The turret can turn to bring either of the spindles into the winding on station, and in so doing, it pushes a deflector into the path of the thread. The deflector guides the thread onto a catcher on the spindle at the winding on station, so that the latter begins to pick up the thread. The full package continues to rotate even at the reserve station until the trailing thread to the catcher is severed.

United States Patent [72] Inventors George Hirst Dewsburh; Brian Whiteley, Halifax, both of England [21 Appl. No. 820,842 [22] Filed May 1, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Fairbairn Lawson Limited Yorkshire, England [32] Priority May 3, 1968 [33] Great Britain [3 1 20996/68 [54] TEXTILE THREAD-WINDING APPARATUS 31 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.(I 242/18A [5 l -Int. Cl B65h 54/02 [50] Field oiSearch 242/18, 18 A, 25 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,054 11/1956 Hereleet al. 242/18 A 3,279,709 10/ 1966 Carlson et a1 242/18 A 3,355,117 11/1967 Gerhardt et a1 242/18 A FOREIGN PATENTS 1,199,792 6/1959 France 242/18 A 822,329 10/1959 Great Britain. 242/18 A 1,071,073 6/1967 Great Britain.... 242/18 A 1,104,156 2/1968 Great Britain.... 242/18 A Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath ArrorneyNorris 8r. Bateman ABSTRACT: A textile thread-winding apparatus has a turret with two spindles each adapted to receive a thread carrier. The turret can turn to bring either of the spindles into the winding on station, and in so doing, it pushes a deflector into the path of the thread. The deflector guides the thread onto a catcher on the spindle at the winding on station, so that the latter begins to pick up the thread. The full package continues to rotate even at the reserve station until the trailing thread to the catcher is severed.

PATENTED SEP] 4 ISYI SHEET 1 OF 9 a..." f \\\A w my INVENTOR:

GEORGE HIRST 6- BRIAN WHITELEI INVENTOR;

GEORGE HIRST &

BY BRIAN WHITFTLEY KM/w) 2 6mm;

PATENTED SEPI 41m 3.604.642

sum u or 9 INVENTOR:

GEORGE ums'r & BRIAN BY WUITE'LEY aw/ 1 o mm PATENTED SEPMIQH 3,604,642

SHEET 5 [1F 9 INVENTOR:

GEORGE HIRST & BRIAN WHITE'LEY MA WW) 9 60h arm/w PATENTEDSEPWWI 3.604.642

SHFET 6 OF 9 INVENTOR:

GEORGE HIRST & BRIAN WHITELF! PATH-HEB SEFMLEYI 3694.542

SHEET 7 BF 9 INVENTOR:

GEORGE HIRST & BRIAN WHITELFTY JGUWJ l 1 10 PATENTED SEPI 4 Mi 3.604.642

sum 8 or 9 INVENTOR:

GEORGE HIRST & BRIAN WHITELE'Y TEXTILE THREAD-WINDING APPARATUS Thread-winding apparatus is used in the textile industry to wind all kinds of threads on to various carriers such as bobbins, pims and tubes. The present invention is concerned with textile thread-winding apparatus generally, and while in this specification reference will be made to winding on to tubes, it is to be understood that other types of carrier could be used. Furthermore, the term thread is intended to include not only twisted yarns, but also untwisted or partially twisted slubbings and filaments. A practical embodiment of the invention has indeed been designed to wind narrow tapes of plastics material (e.g. polypropylene) and this is an indication of the breadth of the term thread as used herein.

When a carrier has been filled with the woundthread, it has to be removed and replaced by an empty'carrier. Obviously, it is advantageous if this can be done automatically without stopping the windingmachine. This is especially the case if the machine is arranged to deliver the thread continuously irrespective of whether it is being wound on to a carrier or not.

This invention relates to winding apparatus in which there is a winding station and at least one reserve station, there being automatic mechanism for bringing an empty carrier placed on a reserve station to the winding station, and for moving the filled carrier from the winding station to a reserve station so that the filled carrier can be removed from the reserve station and replaced by an empty one, manually, at any time while the winding process is in operation without stopping the machine.

Although there is no particular difficulty in moving the filled carrier to the reserve station and the empty carrier to the winding station, there are difficulties of some magnitude in ensuring a correct changeover of the thread from the full carrier to the empty carrier. It is the principal object of the invention to provide automatic winding apparatus which is adapted to deal with the problem of thread changeover.

According to this invention a textile thread-winding apparatus has a mechanism for moving a filled thread carrier from a winding station to a reserve station, and for moving an empty carrier from a reserve station to the winding station and deflector means adapted to be placed in an operative relationship with the empty carrier when the latter arrives at the winding station to guide the thread then extending from a supply source to the filled carrier on to a thread catcher rotatable with the empty carrier.

The deflector means may take the form of a substantially rigid member movable into a position where it deflects the thread from its natural (free) path, and having a surface which engages with the thread, this surface being so shaped that the tension of the thread causes the thread to move over the surface towards the position where it engages on the thread catcher.

The winding apparatus may include a reciprocable thread guide for traversing the thread along the carrier as it is being wound, in which case, the apparatus-may be adapted to use the traverse of the thread by the thread guide to move the thread over the surface of the deflector on to the thread catcher. Preferably, the apparatus includes means for moving the deflector member with the empty carrier to engage with the thread between the thread guide and the filled carrier as the empty carrier arrives at the winding station.

Preferably, the deflector comprises a wire rod extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the empty carrier and curved inwardly towards the axis of the carrier at the thread catcher end of the carrier. If the apparatus has a laying on roller which presses the thread on to the carrier at the winding on station, then the laying on roller will be movable towards and away from the axis of the carrier to allow for build up of the thread package. In that case, cam means are preferably associated with the mechanism for moving the carrier to move the laying on roller outwardly to allow the deflector to pass between it and the empty carrier when a change takes place.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, driving means are provided for rotating a carrier about its own axis for the purpose of thread winding. The driving means is preferably of a friction type to permit slip to occur when a predetermined load is exceeded. It is also preferred that the drivingmeans shall be so arranged that it is capable of rotating a'carrier at both the winding and reserve stations and during the transition from one stage to the other. Further, it is preferred to provide control means whereby the driveto a carrier at the reserve station can be started and stopped as required by the changeover cycle of the apparatus.

According to yet another preferred feature of the invention, the driving means for rotating the carrier includes a variable torque coupling adapted to transmit an increased torque during that part of the changeover cycle when a carrier is'being rotated at the reserve station.

According to a still further preferred feature of the invention, there is a turret rotatable about its own axis, and having at least two thread carrier mountings, any one of which can be brought to the winding station (when another will be at the reserve station) by rotation of the turret, there being means for locking the turret in any of the positions where one of the carriers mountings is at the winding station.

The turret rotation mechanism may include a reciprocable prime mover, operating on the turret through a unidirectional drive transmitter, so that only movement of the prime mover in one direction is converted into rotation of the turret. With such an arrangement the means for locking the turret may comprisea resiliently loaded pawl engageable with a shoulder on a part rotatable with the turret to resist motion of the turret beyond the desired position when the prime mover moves in the driving direction.

At each carrier position on the turret there is preferably a spindle adapted to be rotated from a constantly rotated drive shaft, coaxial with the turret, through a friction drive. This friction drive may include a spring loaded member normally in the driving position but disengageable by a drive release device at the reserve station.

Mechanism for rotating the turret is preferably fluid operated (hydraulic or pneumatic) and may be a ram and cylinder device with a rack fixed to the ram engaging a pinion.

According to yet another preferred feature of the invention, the winding apparatus has a thread-transversing mechanism for traversing the thread axially of the carrier during the winding process, and control mechanism is provided whereby the operation of the turret-turning mechanism is only possible when the thread is about to traverse towards the thread catcher. This can be achieved by a switch or valve controlling the turret-turning mechanism and operated by a cam driven by the traversing mechanism.

For some threads it may be adequate to rely on tension in the thread between the thread catcher and the carrier which has just moved to the reserve station to break the thread to permit winding on to the empty carrier to commence. However, it is preferred to provide a thread cutter positioned so that thread extending from the carrier which is just arriving at the reserve station to the thread catcher will cross the cutter and be severed by it. The cutter may have a blade or it may comprise an electric resistance wire adapted to be heated to sever the thread when a current is passed through it.

A winding head of a machine for winding polypropylene tape on to tubes for use in loom shuttles, which machine is constructed in accordance with the invention, will not be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a partly sectional plan of the winding head, taken on the line l-I in FIG. 2,

FIG. 1B is a partly sectional plan complementary to FIG. 1A,

FIG. 2 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1B,

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation on a line III-III in FIG. 2, showing a driving mechanism,

FIG. 4 is an end view of a spindle drive mechanism,

FIG. 5 is an end view of a turret-locking mechanism,

FIG. 6 is an end view of a turret-turning mechanism,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a thread guide,

FIG. 8 is a view underneath the machine showing certain control elements.

FIG. 9 is an electrical diagram showing the control circuit,

F [G 10 is a detail view of a thread catcher, and

FIG. 11 is a detail view of a thread cutter.

Only a single-winding head is illustrated in the drawings, but it will be appreciated that in practice, a number of these heads are provided on the winding machine. Since all the heads are identical, it is only necessary to describe one in detail. The winding machine is positioned adjacent a continuous extrusion machine producing the polypropylene tapes and one tape is fed to each winding head. It should be understood that the invention could be used on a winding machine having only a single-winding head, with a corresponding single thread supply.

There is a positive thread feed from the extruder, but the winding machine is driven at a speed such as to maintain tension in the thread.

As seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, there is a spindle turret 10 rotatable about its own longitudinal axis, and mounting two spindles 11 and 12 at positions mutually at 180 to each other around the axis of the turret. Each of the spindles 11 and 12 is adapted to receive a tube (not shown) and is split at 14 so that it can contract slightly when the tube is fitted to ensure that the tube is firmly gripped on the spindle. It will be understood that other methods of holding a tube on to the spindle could be employed. For example, a spring tube holder of the kind well known for holding textile tubes on creels, spindles and the like could be provided on the spindle to grip the tube on its inside.

The machine is driven by an electric motor (not shown) and there is a belt drive to a pulley 15 coaxial with the turret 10.

The pulley 15 is keyed on to an input shaft 16 of a coupling 120, the driven member of which is keyed on to a spindle drive shaft 17. The coupling 120 is a magnetic particle coupling which uses a ferromagnetic powder as the drive medium. The important feature of this type of coupling for the purpose of this invention is that the coupling can slip, but the torque transmitted is entirely dependent on the applied excitation current. Consequently, during operation the torque output of the coupling can be altered by altering the applied current.

The other end of the shaft 17 carries a friction drive pulley 18 (see FIG. 4). Each of the spindles 11 and 12 is provided with a pulley 19, 20 and there are idler pulleys 21, 22 each having a rubber tire, which both engage with the drive pulley 18, and respectively engage with the pulley l9 and 20. So long as either of the idler pulleys remains in contact with its spindle pulley 19 or 20, it will transmit drive from the drive pulley 18 to its spindle.

FIG. 4 shows that each idler pulley 21,22 is carried on a lever 23, 24 pivoted on the turret at 25, 26 these levers are loaded by springs 23a and 24a to press their respective pulleys 21 and 22 into engagement with the drive pulley 18 and the spindle pulleys 19 and 20. The spindle in the position indicated in FIGS. 1B, 2 and 4 as 11 is in the winding on station while the spindle 12 is in the reserve station-but it will be appreciated that this will be reversed if the turret 10 is rotated through 180.

At the side of the machine remote from the winding on station, there is a solenoid 27 the control of which will be described later. The armature of the solenoid is connected by a link 28 with one end of a two-armed lever 29 pivoted on a fixed part of the machine at 30. The other arm of the lever 29 has a spigot 31, which is capable of engagement with the end of whichever of the levers 23 and 24 is at the reserve station. A tension spring 32 is attached at one end to the lever 29, and at its other end it is anchored to a pin 33 fixed on the machine. This spring pulls the lever 29 to engage the spigot 31 on the lever 23 or 24, and the spring 32 is strong enough to overcome the spring loading of the lever 23 or 24, so that it disengages the idler pulley 21 or 22 from the spindle pulley 19 or 20 as indicated by the chain dotted line in FIG. 4.

Thus the drive to the spindle at the reserve station is normally interrupted, but if the solenoid 27 isenergized, it pulls the lever 29, to release the lever 23 or 24,-and this reconnects the spindle drive. Consequently, it is possible to apply rotation to the reserve stationspindle by energizing the solenoid 27. There is no permanent connection between the lever 29 and the levers 23 and 24 so that the latter are free to rotate with the turret, and during such rotation both spindles will continue to rotate, because each idler pulley will remain in driving contact with the drive pulley 18 and the pulley 19 or 20.

The turret 10 is fixed to a tube 34 supported in journal bearings 35 and 36, and the drive shaft 17 passes through this tube and is free to rotate in a needle bearing 37 and a ball bearing 38.

The mechanism for turning the turret is illustrated'in FIGS. 1A and 6, and in this instance it is pneumatically operated, although it should be understood that hydraulic or purely mechanical (e.g. crank) operation is possible. A pneumatic cylinder 40 is mounted below the turret, and its piston rod 41 carried a toothed rack 42 which meshes with a pinion 44 rotatable on the tube 34. The pinion 44 is compounded with the driving part of a freewheel device 45, and the driven part of this device is keyed on to the tube 34. The arrangement of the freewheel drive is such that drive is only transmitted to the tube 34 when the piston rod 41 is projected to push the rack 42 upwardly, and this produces rotation of the turret 10 in the anticlockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4.

The mechanism for locking the turret at its two possible positions is illustrated in FIG. 5. A cam disc 46 is keyed on to the tube 34 and this disc has two identical halves each rising from a low point to a high point with a sudden step 47, 48 at the junction between one high point and the adjacent low point.

A stop lever 51 is pivoted at 52 to the frame, and this lever occupies a position above the cam disc 46. A detent 53 on the lever 51 is engageable with either of the steps 47 and 48 to prevent rotation of the cam disc 46. A tension spring 57 is anchored to the lever 51 at 58 and to a fixed part of the frame at 59. Normally, the spring 57 pulls the stop lever 51 downwardly and this holds the detent 53 in engagement with one of the steps 47, 48. A release cam 60 is fixed on a freewheel device at 45, and is engageable with a pin 61 projecting from the stop lever 51 (see also FIG. 6).

When the rack 42 rotates the pinion 44 in the clockwise direction due to retraction of the piston rod 41, the cam 60 en gages with the pin 61 towards the end of rotation of the cam, and lifts the lever 51 to disengage the detent 53 from the step 47. The cam 46 is then free to rotate, and this means that the turret 10 can also rotate. An interlock switch 62 is positioned above the lever 51, and is closed by that lever when the cam 60 lifts it to release the turret.

When the piston rod 41 is retracted, it does not rotate the cam 46 because the latter is held by the detent 53, and the freewheel device 45 allows the pinion 44 to rotate without the cam 46. When the rod 41 is projected however, the freewheel device transmits drive and the cam 46 is rotated (it having been freed by the cam 60 lifting the lever 51) and the turret 10 is rotated with it. Sufficient land at the top of the lift of the cam 60 must pass under the spigot 61, to hold the lever 51 in its raised position during the initial movement of the cam 46 to allow the step 47 or 48 to pass the detent 53. Thereafter the detent drops on to the periphery of the cam 46 but simply rides on it until it engages the next stop 48 or 47 after rotation of the turret.

The arrangement so far described provided means for mounting the tubes on the two spindles, means for bringing the tubes one at a time to the winding on station, and means for rotating the spindle at the winding on station to wind the tapes on to it.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tape is brought from the supply station, through a traversing guide 63, and over a laying on roller 64 which presses the tape on to the tube on the spindle at the winding on station to ensure that a firm package is produced.

The laying on roller is freely rotatable on needle bearings 65 and 66 on a spindle 67 which is carried by arms 68 fastened to a part 69 which is capable of turning about the axis of a traversing shaft 70 arranged parallel with the shaft 17.

The traversing guide 63 is mounted on a slider 71 slidable on a fixed rod 72 arranged parallel with the shaft 70. A roller follower 73 carried by the slider 71 engages in a groove 74 in a reversed helical cam 75 fixed to the shaft 70. Only part of the cam 75 is shown in FIG. 1, but it will be understood that this cam is of a type well known in the textile industry for traversing the slider 71 and its guide 63 backwards and forwards along the length of the tube to lay the tape evenly along I the tube.

drive from the motor on to a pulley 80 (FIG. 3) keyed on a shaft 81 parallel with the shaft 17. A pinion 82 on the shaft 81 drives a wheel 83 on the layshaft 84, and a pinion 85 on the layshaft 84 drives a wheel 86 carried on a stub shaft 87. The wheel 86 meshes with and drives a large wheel 88 keyed on to the traversing shaft 70.

A thread guide device as shown in FIG. 7 is fitted to the turret (see also FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2) and comprises a mounting block 91 into which are fastened the ends of a wire rod. The latter is bent to provide radial members 92 and 93 and two longitudinal members 92a and 93a joined by an S-shaped end portion 94. If desired, 'a strengthening rod 94a may be fitted between the block 91 and the center of the S portion 94.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, the device 90 is fitted to the turret 10 so that the longitudinal member 92a is associated with the spindle 12 and the member 920 is associated with the spindle 11. Each member 92a, 93a extends parallel with its spindle to a position near to the inner end where it sweeps round a curve 91a towards its spindle.

A cam plate 95 is fixed to the turret and has lobes 96 and 97 at the positions where the guide members 920 and 93a are fitted. A roller 98 is carried by the laying on roller spindle 67 and this roller engages on the peripheral surface of the plate 95. When the turret is rotated, from the position shown in FIG. 2, the lobe 96 will push the laying on roller assembly away from the turret to allow the guide member 920 to pass to the underside of the laying on roller. In doing this, the tape which passes through the guide 63 and over the roller 64 is pressed down and lies on the outside of the wire guide 92a.

Fixed on the cam plate 95 at the center is a thread cutter unit 130, shown in detail in 'FIG. 11. A block 131 has two cutter blades 132 and 133 clamped respectively on to its opposite sides by clamp plates 134 secured by screws 136. The disposition of the blades 132 and 133 is clearly shown in FIG. 2 and it will be observed that they are close to the pins 103 on the spindles 11 and 12.

A ring 100 (see FIG. 10) is fixed to the inner end of each spindle 11, 12 and a series of short pins 103 projects from each of these rings. These pins provide a thread-catching device. A part annular member 102 is fixed to the turret and embraces part of the ring 100, there being bristles 104 projecting inwardly from the member 102 which serve to trap tape caught on one of the pins 103 to ensure that the tape cannot escape from the pins once it has been caught.

A solenoid-controlled pneumatic valve- 106 (FIG. 8) is fitted in the circuit of the cylinder 40, and there is also a relay 107 for the control circuit.

The electrical control gear besides the apparatus already described includes a normally open switch 108 (FIG. 4) which is adapted to be closed by a pin 109 which joins the armature of the solenoid 27 to the link 28. Consequently, the switch 108 is closed each time the solenoid pulls down the lever 29 to allow drive to be connected to the spindle at the reserve station. There is also an automatic time delay switch 110 which is set to the period between carrier changeovers (i.e. the time during which tape will be wound on to one tube) and a time delay switch 111 whichcontrol the period allowed for the changeover to take place.

The overall operation of the machine will not be described. Supposing that the parts are in the positionshown and that tape is being wound on to a tube on the spindle 11. The length of tape delivered is determined by the setting of the timer 110, although it will be appreciated that it could be measured by some kind of detector on the winding machine. When the required length has been wound on to the tube, an electrical signal appears at the timer 110.

This signal allows current to flow through the solenoid 27 to release the lever 24 so that drive is transmitted from the driving shaft 17 to the spindle 12. Therefore the tube at the reserve station (which will be an empty tube) begins to rotate.

When the solenoid 27 is energized, it causes the switch 108 to be closed, and this short circuits variable resistances 112 and 113 arranged in series with the magnetic particle coupling 120.'The resistances 112 and 113 are set so that the coupling will transmit only sufficient torque to keep thecorrect tension in the tape, the winding apparatus operating with constant torque. When the resistances 112 and 113 are cut out, the torque transmitted by the coupling is greater and is adequate to drive both spindles 11 and 12.

Also when the signal appears at the output of the timer 110, current flows via the traverse switch 77 and a relay contact 122 to the air valve solenoid 106. The latter is actuated, so that it retracts the rod 41 of the cylinder 40, thus rotating the pinion 44 and the cam 60. The latter releases the stop lever 51 so that the turret is free to rotate, and also closes the interlock switch 62. I

The machine continues to wind thread on to the tube on the spindle 11, but at the same time the spindle 12 is being brought up to the correct winding speed. Just after the thread has reached the outer end of its traverse (i.e. when the slider 71 is about to move towards the turret) the cam 76 closes the switch 77. Current then ceases to flow through the air valve solenoid 106, and consequently the air supply to the pneumatic cylinder 40 is reversed, so that the rod 41 is projected to the extended position shown in FIG. 6 and this rotates the turret 10 through I I Current can then also flow through the switches 62 and 77 so that the relay ,107 is energized. The relay operates a latching switch 121 in the electrical circuit, and this latches on the relay via a conductor 122, so that it remains energized until the timer 11 l operates to cut off the current through the conductor 122. When the relay 107 is actuated, it opens the relay contact 122 and this maintains the solenoid valve 106 in the position such that the rod 41 is held in its projected position and cannot attempt to reoperate.

During the rotation of the turret 10, the spindle 12 is brought into the winding on station, and the guide rod 920 pushes the tape extending from the laying on roller 64 to the tube on the spindle 11 (now at the reserve station) downwardly. The tape thus becomes deflated and runs on the outside of the guide wire 920. By the time the changeover has taken place, the tape will be travelling inwardly, and at the end of its inward traverse, it slides around the curved part 91a of the guide wire because it is being pulled taut by the continued rotation of the spindle 11.

The tape then becomes caught on the pins 103 and begins to wind on to the spindle l2 and then, due to the traverse of the guide 63, on to the tube on the spindle 12.

Since the tape is then being wound on to the tube on the spindle 12, but at the same time, the spindle 11 is still rotating and attempting to wind the tape on to its tube, the length of tape between the pins 103 of the spindle 12 and the tube on the spindle 11 is stretched taut across the cutter blade 132 (then in the opposite position to that illustrated in FIG. 2) and the tape is severed. The tail is then wound on to the full tube on the spindle l1.

After a short time delay determined by the timer 111, the solenoid 27 is deenergized and this allows the spindle 11 to stop so that it can be removed manually when desired and replaced by a fresh empty tube. The release of the solenoid 27 causes the switch 108 to be opened, and this switches the coupling control circuit to the winding condition so that the torque output of the coupling is reduced to that required for winding on the thread. Furthermore, the relay 107 is deenergized and this allows the contact 122 to close and the relay contact 121 to revert to its set position. Since the fall of the lever 51 when the turret is rotated will open the interlock switch 62, all the electrical circuit is restored to normal and the timer 110 begins to time the winding on to the tube on the spindle 12.

Various modifications are possible in the construction and operation of the machine described above. In particular, the severing of the tape or thread is susceptible to being realized in a variety of ways. In some cases, the thread will be severed simplydue to the tension caused by the continued rotation of the spindle which has just moved to the reserve station after the thread has been caught on the thread catcher of the spindle just arrived at the winding on station. Consequently, the cutter would not be required.

The significance of the variable torque coupling in relation to this question of thread severing should not be overlooked. This coupling allows an increased torque to be transmitted as previously described during the changeover period. Consequently, the power applied to drive the spindle which has just moved to the reserve station is adequate to hold the thread taut enough for severing by a cutter (and in some instances is sufficient to break the thread), but during the winding on period, the power is reduced so that the package is not wound too tightly.

Furthermore, the method of driving the two spindles during the changeover period by the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4 is very useful in enabling a. the spindle which is moving into the winding on position to be brought up to speed, and

b. the other spindle to be rotated to hold the thread taut.

Instead of using a cutter with blades such as that shown in FIG. 11, the cutter may have an electric resistance wire which is heated so as to be capable of severing the thread when the latter is stretched over it. Furthermore, the cutter, with either a blade or a heated wire, may be positioned differently. For example it could be pressed into engagement with the cylindrical surface of the ring 100 (FIG. 10). In one such arrangement there are two rows of pins 103 between which there is an annular groove in the ring 100, and the cutter engages in the groove. When a thread is caught on the two rows of pins, it must cross the groove at some point, and it will be cut when this part of the thread passes the cutter.

In the embodiment described above with reference to the drawings, the winding on spindle and the traversing cam are driven from the same motor through two separate belt drives to the pulleys l5 and 80 and this results in a random relationship between the winding on and the thread traverse. Even if the drives are coupled together by a positive driving mechanism such as a chain drive, there will be the same random relationship due to the slipping action of the clutch 120. If a precisely controlled wind is required then the output of the coupling 120 must be geared to the traversing drive shaft 81, but this calls for a more powerful clutch 120.

It will be appreciated that a single set of electrical timers such as 110 and 111, can be used to operate the changeover of a series of thread winding stations as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 on a single machine.

We claim:

1. A textile thread-winding device having a winding station and a reserve station and comprising support means; first and second thread carrier mountings on said support means; said support means being mounted for movement between a first position, whereat said first thread carrier mounting is at said winding station and second thread carrier mounting is at said reserve station, and a second position, whereat said first thread carrier mounting is at said reserve station and said second thread carrier mounting is at said winding station; driving means for rotating whichever of said mountings is at said winding station; first and second thread catches mounted respectively at said first and second thread carrier mountings and being rotatable about their respective axes, and first and second deflectors mounted on said support means for movement therewith, said deflectors being respectively positioned in proximity to said first and second thread carrier mountings, and arranged so as to deflect thread passing to a carrier on the associated mounting when that mounting is at said winding station, onto said thread catcher associated with that mountmg.

2. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a laying on roller normally urged towards a carrier at said winding station, but mounted for movement away from said winding station to allow for build up of the thread package, and first and second cam means associated respectively with said first and second deflectors, said cam means being movable with said support means to lift said laying on roller away from said winding station to allow said associated deflector to pass said laying on roller.

3. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which there is a reciprocable thread guide for traversing a thread along the length of a thread carrier at said winding station, said first and second deflectors being shaped so that when the thread guide carries a'thread along the length of a deflector, the combination of the action of the thread guide and the shape of the deflector causes the thread to be guided onto the thread catcher.

4. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim I, in which each of said deflectors comprises a wire rod extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the associated carrier and curved inwardly towards the axis of that carrier at the thread catcher end of that carrier.

5. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which driving means are provided for rotating a carrier at each of said first and second mountings about its own axis for the purpose of thread winding.

6. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the driving means is of a friction type to permit slip to occur when a predetermined load is exceeded.

7. A textile threadwinding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the driving means is so constructed and arranged that it is capable of rotating a carrier at both the winding and reserve stations and during the transition from one stage to the other.

8. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which control means are provided whereby the drive to a carrier at the reserve station can be started and stopped as required by the changeover cycle of the apparatus.

9. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the driving means includes a driving roller, and each mounting comprises a spindle each adapted to receive a thread carrier, said spindles being rotatable bodily about the axis of rotation of the driving roller during a changeover so as to maintain the drive from the driving roller to the spindles during the changeover.

10. A textile thread-windng apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which there is associated with each spindle an idler roller which engages with the driving roller to transmit drive from 'the driving roller to the spindle, the idler roller being mounted on a part movable with the spindle between its winding on and reserve stations this part being movable to permit disengagement of the idler roller and the driving roller at the reserve statron.

11. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which each idler roller is mounted on a pivoted lever resiliently loaded so that it normally holds the idler roller in engagement with the driving roller.

12. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which a release member is provided which is adapted for movement between an inoperative position where it is clear of the path of movement of all parts movable with the spindles during a changeover, and an operative position where it engages the pivoted lever and turns the latter to disengage its idler roller from the driving roller.

13. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 12; in which the release member is adapted to be operated by a solenoid.

14. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the driving means includes a variable torque coupling adapted to transmit an increased torque during that part of the changeover cycle when a carrier is being rotated at the reserve station.

15. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the variable torque coupling is a magnetic particle coupling.

16. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which a variable resistance is connected in series with the magnetic particle coupling to provide means for setting the normal (winding on) torque of the coupling and a switch is provided to short circuit the variable resistance, this switch being adapted to be closed during a changeover so that the coupling transmits increased torque during the changeover period.

17. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said support means comprises a turret rotatable about its own axis, there being means for locking the turret in any of the positions where one of said carrier mountings is at the winding station.

18. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which the turret station mechanism includes a reciprocable prime mover, operating on the turret through a unidirectional drive transmitter, so that only movement of the prime mover in one direction is converted into rotation of the turret.

19. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 18, in which the means for locking the turret comprises a resiliently loaded pawl engageable with a shoulder on a part rotatable with the turret to resist motion of the turret beyond the desired position when the prime mover moves in the driving direction.

20. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 19, in which the mechanism for rotating the turret is fluid operated.

21. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 20, in which the mechanism for rotating the turret is a ram and cylinder device with a rack fixed to the ram engaging a pinion.

22. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which there is a thread-transversing mechanism for traversing a thread axially of a carrier, at said winding station, and control mechanism is provided whereby the operation of the turret-turning mechanism is only possible when the thread is about to traverse towards said thread catcher.

23. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim l, in which there is provided a thread cutter positioned so that thread extending from a carrier which is arriving or has arrived at said reserve station to said thread catcher will cross the cutter and be severed by it.

24. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 23, in which said thread cutter has a fixed blade.

25. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 24, in which said thread cutter comprises an electric resistance wire adapted to be heated to sever a thread when current is passed through it.

26. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said thread catcher comprises a series of pins projecting radially from a member rotatable with each of said first and second carriers.

27. A textile thread winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which periodically operated means is provided to change over said support means between said positions and the time between successive changeovers is controlled by an electrical timer in said eriodically o erated means.

28. A textr e thread-win ing apparatus compnsmg a support having a plurality of thread carrier means rotatably mounted thereon, means mounting said support for rotation between a position wherein said a first thread carrier means is located at a winding station where incoming thread from a supply source may be wound thereon and a second thread carrier means is located at a reserve station where a wound thread package may be removed therefrom and a second position wherein the locations of said thread carrier means may be reversed with an empty second thread carrier means moving into said winding station, means for rotating said support between said positions, means for driving the thread carrier means at said winding station, and thread deflector means mounted on and movable with said rotatable support adapted upon movement of the empty second thread carrier means toward said winding station to intercept said incoming thread and guide it directly into winding relation with said second thread carrier means.

29. A textile thread-winding apparatus as defined in claimed 28, wherein said means for rotating said support comprises time controlled means adapted to rotate said support at predetermined intervals.

30. A textile thread-winding apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein said driving means is adapted to selectively rotate either one or both thread carrier mountings and time controlled means is provided for initiating rotation of said second thread carrier means before it arrives at said winding station and for stopping rotation of said first thread carrier means after it leaves said winding station during a changeover cycle.

31. A textile thread-winding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein means is provided at said second thread carrier means for catching the thread to be wound thereon, and means on said support effective after the thread has been caught at said second thread carrier means for severing the thread extending between said thread carrier means. 

1. A textile thread-winding device having a winding station and a reserve station and comprising support means; first and second thread carrier mountings on said support means; said support means being mounted for movement between a first position, whereat said first thread carrier mounting is at said winding station and second thread carrier mounting is at said reserve station, and a second position, whereat said first thread carrier mounting is at said reserve station and said second thread carrier mounting is at said winding station; driving means for rotating whichever of said mountings is at said winding station; first and second thread catches mounted respectively at said first and second thread carrier mountings and being rotatable about their respective axes, and first and second deflectors mounted on said support means for movement therewith, said deflectors being respectively positioned in proximity to said first and second thread carrier mountings, and arranged so as to deflect thread passing to a carrier on the associated mounting when that mounting is at said winding station, onto said thread catcher associated with that mounting.
 2. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a laying on roller normally urged towards a carrier at said winding station, but mounted for movement away from said winding station to allow for build up of the thread package, and first and second cam means associated reSpectively with said first and second deflectors, said cam means being movable with said support means to lift said laying on roller away from said winding station to allow said associated deflector to pass said laying on roller.
 3. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which there is a reciprocable thread guide for traversing a thread along the length of a thread carrier at said winding station, said first and second deflectors being shaped so that when the thread guide carries a thread along the length of a deflector, the combination of the action of the thread guide and the shape of the deflector causes the thread to be guided onto the thread catcher.
 4. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each of said deflectors comprises a wire rod extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the associated carrier and curved inwardly towards the axis of that carrier at the thread catcher end of that carrier.
 5. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which driving means are provided for rotating a carrier at each of said first and second mountings about its own axis for the purpose of thread winding.
 6. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the driving means is of a friction type to permit slip to occur when a predetermined load is exceeded.
 7. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which the driving means is so constructed and arranged that it is capable of rotating a carrier at both the winding and reserve stations and during the transition from one stage to the other.
 8. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which control means are provided whereby the drive to a carrier at the reserve station can be started and stopped as required by the changeover cycle of the apparatus.
 9. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the driving means includes a driving roller, and each mounting comprises a spindle each adapted to receive a thread carrier, said spindles being rotatable bodily about the axis of rotation of the driving roller during a changeover so as to maintain the drive from the driving roller to the spindles during the changeover.
 10. A textile thread-windng apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which there is associated with each spindle an idler roller which engages with the driving roller to transmit drive from the driving roller to the spindle, the idler roller being mounted on a part movable with the spindle between its winding on and reserve stations this part being movable to permit disengagement of the idler roller and the driving roller at the reserve station.
 11. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which each idler roller is mounted on a pivoted lever resiliently loaded so that it normally holds the idler roller in engagement with the driving roller.
 12. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which a release member is provided which is adapted for movement between an inoperative position where it is clear of the path of movement of all parts movable with the spindles during a changeover, and an operative position where it engages the pivoted lever and turns the latter to disengage its idler roller from the driving roller.
 13. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 12; in which the release member is adapted to be operated by a solenoid.
 14. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the driving means includes a variable torque coupling adapted to transmit an increased torque during that part of the changeover cycle when a carrier is being rotated at the reserve station.
 15. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the variable torque coupling is a magnetic particle coupling.
 16. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which a variable resistance is connected in series with the magnetic particle coupling to pRovide means for setting the normal (winding on) torque of the coupling and a switch is provided to short circuit the variable resistance, this switch being adapted to be closed during a changeover so that the coupling transmits increased torque during the changeover period.
 17. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said support means comprises a turret rotatable about its own axis, there being means for locking the turret in any of the positions where one of said carrier mountings is at the winding station.
 18. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which the turret station mechanism includes a reciprocable prime mover, operating on the turret through a unidirectional drive transmitter, so that only movement of the prime mover in one direction is converted into rotation of the turret.
 19. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 18, in which the means for locking the turret comprises a resiliently loaded pawl engageable with a shoulder on a part rotatable with the turret to resist motion of the turret beyond the desired position when the prime mover moves in the driving direction.
 20. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 19, in which the mechanism for rotating the turret is fluid operated.
 21. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 20, in which the mechanism for rotating the turret is a ram and cylinder device with a rack fixed to the ram engaging a pinion.
 22. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which there is a thread-transversing mechanism for traversing a thread axially of a carrier, at said winding station, and control mechanism is provided whereby the operation of the turret-turning mechanism is only possible when the thread is about to traverse towards said thread catcher.
 23. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which there is provided a thread cutter positioned so that thread extending from a carrier which is arriving or has arrived at said reserve station to said thread catcher will cross the cutter and be severed by it.
 24. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 23, in which said thread cutter has a fixed blade.
 25. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 24, in which said thread cutter comprises an electric resistance wire adapted to be heated to sever a thread when current is passed through it.
 26. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said thread catcher comprises a series of pins projecting radially from a member rotatable with each of said first and second carriers.
 27. A textile thread-winding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which periodically operated means is provided to change over said support means between said positions and the time between successive changeovers is controlled by an electrical timer in said periodically operated means.
 28. A textile thread-winding apparatus comprising a support having a plurality of thread carrier means rotatably mounted thereon, means mounting said support for rotation between a position wherein said a first thread carrier means is located at a winding station where incoming thread from a supply source may be wound thereon and a second thread carrier means is located at a reserve station where a wound thread package may be removed therefrom and a second position wherein the locations of said thread carrier means may be reversed with an empty second thread carrier means moving into said winding station, means for rotating said support between said positions, means for driving the thread carrier means at said winding station, and thread deflector means mounted on and movable with said rotatable support adapted upon movement of the empty second thread carrier means toward said winding station to intercept said incoming thread and guide it directly into winding relation with said second thread carrier means.
 29. A textile thread-winding apparatus as defined in claimed 28, Wherein said means for rotating said support comprises time controlled means adapted to rotate said support at predetermined intervals.
 30. A textile thread-winding apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein said driving means is adapted to selectively rotate either one or both thread carrier mountings and time controlled means is provided for initiating rotation of said second thread carrier means before it arrives at said winding station and for stopping rotation of said first thread carrier means after it leaves said winding station during a changeover cycle.
 31. A textile thread-winding apparatus according to claim 28, wherein means is provided at said second thread carrier means for catching the thread to be wound thereon, and means on said support effective after the thread has been caught at said second thread carrier means for severing the thread extending between said thread carrier means. 